Chapter 257: The Summit of Osmanthus Island
(Recommending a revised version of "Waves Under Heaven", I have it on my page, you can follow me there. The behind-the-scenes production stories for this song are especially wonderful.)
The Fan family's Osmanthus Island continent-crossing ferry would depart in six days, while the Sun family's Mountain Sea Turtle had already set sail far out to sea. Chen Ping'an had originally wanted to go see the Mountain Sea Turtle in person, but considering that Old Dragon City had recently become crowded with prying eyes, and Zheng Dafeng had just broken through a realm, causing such a huge commotion, he told himself not to cause any trouble and simply drank away that curiosity along with the wine.
Over the next two days, the Fan family youth still came to the Dust Pharmacy every day, carrying osmanthus brew and seeking martial arts advice from Zheng Dafeng. Although Zheng Dafeng was not exactly a proper fellow, when it came to discussing the martial path, he was like a different person. His wording might still be a bit flashy, but Chen Ping'an listened from the side and felt that it was indeed of great benefit to the Fan youth's current realm breakthrough—it would not be an exaggeration to call it golden words and jade advice. However, the content Zheng Dafeng covered was of no use to Chen Ping'an, and in the end, he even had some doubts in his mind.
Zheng Dafeng didn't mind Chen Ping'an eavesdropping on these trivial matters concerning the bottleneck of the Third Realm. In fact, he almost wished Chen Ping'an would get an itch and jump in to personally teach the Fan kid, then he could take it easy and go to the front shop to relieve the sisters and sisters-in-law of their troubles. Unfortunately, Chen Ping'an only listened and didn't speak, playing dumb and feigning ignorance, as if he took no pride at all in his own Fourth Realm of martial arts. This made Zheng Dafeng even more resentful. Look—a youth more composed than an old monk in deep meditation or a Daosit in sitting forgetfulness—how could his dashing and unrestrained Zheng Dafeng possibly like him?
If Chen Ping'an weren't considered half his Dao initiator, and if he couldn't scrounge a pot of osmanthus brew every day, Zheng Dafeng would have long told Chen Ping'an to pack up and get the hell out of this pharmacy overflowing with charm, and go be a honored guest at the Fan family mansion, swaggering around there and throwing his weight around.
That day, after Fan Er had finished listening to Zheng Dafeng's explanations and answers to his doubts, the big man hurriedly went to the shop to flirt with the women, while the youth started chatting idly with Chen Ping'an. The two peers sat under the eaves to enjoy the cool air.
Compared to Sun Jiashu, who was already the head of a family burdened with heavy responsibilities, and whose every word and action were meticulously flawless, giving people a pleasant spring-like feeling, the youth Fan Er was much more immature. But he wasn't the kind of naive who knew nothing of the hardships of the common folk. The youth was clever, cheerful, and straightforward, and he had excellent family upbringing. His parents were probably broad-minded, as could be seen from the matter of naming him.
Whenever the youth talked about his elder sister Fan Junmao, it was always with full admiration. One must know that she was his half-sister, and that they were born into a wealthy and noble family. Yet Fan Er was especially close to that "Great Aunt" who was the matriarch of the Fan family. He always said his own birth mother spoiled him too much—it was good, but he was worried he wouldn't grow up. The Great Aunt had always doted on him but also enforced rules, clearly distinguishing right from wrong. When he made progress in his studies, achieved success in martial arts, or handled people and affairs well, the Great Aunt would reward him and explain where he had done well. But when he did something wrong, she would treat him like an adult, never scolding or shouting, instead calmly reasoning with him. Therefore, Fan Er genuinely respected this Great Aunt from the bottom of his heart.
The youth Fan Er was willing to tell Chen Ping'an, a boy from Great Li he had only met recently, about these joys and worries unique to a youth.
Chen Ping'an listened quietly to Fan Er's words, finding them deeply fascinating. At first, Fan Er was afraid Chen Ping'an might find it annoying, but later, seeing that Chen Ping'an genuinely liked it, Fan Er couldn't help but drink a few more sips of wine.
Later, Chen Ping'an also told Fan Er many things about his hometown, Longquan—about being a kiln worker burning charcoal, and about his adventures up mountains and down rivers.
Fan Er's follow-up questions were often wildly imaginative: "Chen Ping'an, you still eat dirt? Is it as tasty as rice? I don't care, as long as it can stave off hunger! How about you teach me which kinds of dirt taste better? Then next time I'm punished at home and starved, I'll grab a big handful of dirt on the way to the ancestral hall!"
"Can you fire a piece of porcelain from start to finish all by yourself? Chen Ping'an, when my coming-of-age ceremony happens, you definitely have to give me a piece of porcelain as a gift. A wine cup or a teacup, something small like that is fine. It doesn't need to be too refined—just a rough shape that people can recognize what it is. Then I can show it off and say it's made by my friend. They'll definitely be speechless with envy."
"What's a courtyard skywell? What do you do when it's windy, rainy, or snowy? That pond facing the skywell—can you raise fish, turtles, crabs, and shrimp in it?"
Chen Ping'an answered Fan Er one by one, and finally said with a smile the thing that made Fan Er happiest: "I have a good friend named Liu Xianyang. He's really accomplished now—he's gone all the way to the distant Continent of Parasol alone. He taught me how to set snares and make bows. I'll introduce you two in the future."
Fan Er nodded like a chick pecking at rice, his face full of anticipation.
He had already started planning how, when Chen Ping'an brought Liu Xianyang to visit one day, he would arrange their accommodations, what wine and food to serve every day, which places in Old Dragon City to take them...
After that, Fan Er missed a day and didn't come to the Dust Pharmacy.
That evening, the pharmacy closed early. Chen Ping'an and Zheng Dafeng were in the back courtyard's main room, eating a table of dishes prepared by a woman. Zheng Dafeng wanted to use his good looks to get that elder sister to not charge them, so he could save face in front of Chen Ping'an. But unfortunately, the woman was unyielding—not a single copper coin less.
Zheng Dafeng held chopsticks in one hand and a wine cup in the other, eating and drinking at the same time. He casually asked, "You spend all day chatting with that Fan kid about this and that—is it interesting?"
Chen Ping'an chewed and swallowed slowly, dealing with the food. After putting down his chopsticks, he said, "Interesting."
Zheng Dafeng snorted disdainfully, but in the end, he couldn't help asking, "I've only been away from Bead Grotto for such a short time, and you've already picked up so many treasures? How did you get them? Tell me about it. Did you step in dog shit and luck out all the way?"
Chen Ping'an retorted, "I'm not that close to you."
Zheng Dafeng looked at him sideways, "And you're close with Fan Er?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Closer than with you."
Zheng Dafeng bared his teeth, "The old man was willing to sell you the long-cherished First Day. He really treats you well."
Chen Ping'an didn't refute that.
Since he had already broken his silence, Zheng Dafeng discarded all pretense of face and asked again, "So you and that clever bean Sun Jiashu have gone your separate ways?"
Chen Ping'an nodded.
Zheng Dafeng laughed, "That Sun is very rich. Not going to try to salvage things? If you become friends, even just fair-weather friends, once you get to Old Dragon City, I guarantee you won't have to worry about food and drink."
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "It's just not meant to be."
After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ping'an added, "Sun Jiashu is not a bad person. It's just that in some matters, he's not upright enough. If I were a merchant, I wouldn't dare do big business with him. Because someone like him has a price tag on everyone—roughly how much they're worth, when to do what kind of business. Sun Jiashu knows it all clearly. And in the end, even the best relationship is just business. Who can guarantee he wouldn't sell you out for money? But maybe I misjudged him or misunderstood him. In any case, whatever Sun Jiashu is like, it has nothing to do with me anymore."
Zheng Dafeng grinned, "He's not as simple as you think, but of course not as bad as you think either. He'll be quite remarkable in the future. Missing him today is a loss for both Sun Jiashu and for you. If you don't believe me, just wait and see."
Chen Ping'an asked, "You mean a loss in terms of money?"
Zheng Dafeng put one leg up on the bench, "Otherwise? The world bustles and hustles—for what? Fame? Isn't that money? Cultivation? Isn't that money? It's all money."
Chen Ping'an smiled, "If it's just money, then it really doesn't matter."
Zheng Dafeng knew what Chen Ping'an meant—he was reluctant to part with money, yet also the most willing to part with money. It seemed contradictory, but in reality, it wasn't. Ultimately, the path beneath everyone's feet, especially those cultivating, lay in the balance between the left and right feet. As long as that was achieved, even if one hopped along, they could still reach the summit of all mountains.
They had once walked side by side, then parted ways. It wasn't necessarily a matter of superiority or inferiority between Chen Ping'an and Sun Jiashu, or of good versus bad. They simply took different paths.
In fact, Zheng Dafeng saw through the youth's temperament very clearly. One man's poison is another man's honey. Li Er liked him, so Zheng Dafeng didn't. But regardless of dislike, he had to admit that Chen Ping'an had come this far step by step by his own Dao. Moreover, how many people in the world could be his, Zheng Dafeng's, Dao initiator?
The old man could, but he was unwilling. He only acknowledged the teacher-student relationship, not wanting to dwell further on the word "Dao."
Chen Ping'an might not be willing either, but without coincidence, there would be no story. How interesting.
Zheng Dafeng couldn't help but think of some distant scenes. Some he had already seen up close, some were still a bit far away. The big man felt a bit lazy and bored and decided to end this conversation, which was even less enjoyable than a table of overly salty dishes. He said, "The five coppers I owe you—I'll definitely pay you back before you board the Osmanthus Island ferry. It'll be fair. This time, my breakthrough, I'll settle the account together with you. Since the old man didn't make clear the matter of a guardian Dao, and I don't consider myself your guardian Dao, I'll just pretend it never happened. At least as far as you, Chen Ping'an, are concerned."
Chen Ping'an had no objection and nodded in agreement.
Zheng Dafeng picked up his old tobacco pipe and began puffing smoke. After smoking dry tobacco for so long, it had become a habit, and he found it quite good—no wonder the old man was so fond of it.
Zheng Dafeng's gaze became distant.
Back when he broke through the clouds and mist, he had nearly accomplished the feat of breaking through two realms in a single day. Then he had seen a scene above the clouds.
That had made him abandon the idea.
Between the Eighth and Ninth Realms of a pure martial artist, one needed to strike the Heavenly Gate, naturally allowing one to see it. That wasn't strange. But Zheng Dafeng was deeply convinced that the Heavenly Gate he saw was absolutely different from what any senior martial artist who had reached the Tenth Realm had seen.
That Heavenly Gate had indeed appeared.
But it wasn't only the Heavenly Gate.
Zheng Dafeng saw, on a giant pillar reaching to the heavens at the Heavenly Gate, a divine general with a blurry face, clad in a dignified suit of armor as white as frost. The divine general was nailed to the pillar of the Heavenly Gate by a sword. Golden blood covered the heavenly pillar.
Zheng Dafeng had looked up at that miserable corpse at the time.
For a moment, it was as if that divine general's corpse had come to life, staring back at him, Zheng Dafeng. The divine general's lips moved slightly, as if speaking a single word.
"Go!"
At that moment, Zheng Dafeng nearly had his guts split open and his soul scatter. He almost became a poor wretch who broke through a realm only to fall back immediately.
At that time, Fu Qi's appearance had helped Zheng Dafeng break free from that grip. And now, Chen Ping'an's question shattered Zheng Dafeng's train of thought.
"Zheng Dafeng, my Third Realm was beaten into me punch by punch. Since Fan Er's Third Realm foundation isn't laid well, why don't you help him?"
Zheng Dafeng stared blankly at this fellow in front of him, then burst out laughing, "You think Fan Er's Third Realm foundation is 'not laid well'?"
Chen Ping'an frowned, "Is it 'very bad'?"
Zheng Dafeng nearly choked to death on his tobacco smoke, then laughed heartily, "Bad my ass! Not to mention me, Zheng Dafeng, my senior brother Li Er, and of course, the Prince of the State Song Changjing—by the standards of pure martial artists in Bottle Gourd Continent, Fan Er's foundation from the First to the Third Realm has been laid exceptionally well. And Fan Er himself is a martial arts genius. And you say it's not good? Then all the pure martial artists in Bottle Gourd Continent might as well commit suicide by smashing their heads with tofu, or hang themselves with a woman's sash."
Chen Ping'an was skeptical, always feeling that this guy was shirking responsibility, spending all day laughing and joking with the women in the pharmacy, unwilling to put more effort into Fan Er.
Zheng Dafeng said with a sly smile, "Now we have to add you to the list. If I remember correctly, Li Er's Third Realm foundation back then might have been a bit worse than yours. But don't get too cocky—you're only outstanding in the Third Realm. Li Er's Ninth Realm foundation can be called the strongest in the world, and my Eighth Realm is about the same. Strange—who has such skill to beat you into that previous Third Realm with his fists? It can't be that Li Er was called back to Bead Grotto by the old man to personally instruct you?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "It was someone else."
This time, Zheng Dafeng was genuinely curious and stopped smoking, "How exactly did that person temper your body and soul?"
Chen Ping'an's expression changed slightly. Just recalling the experience in the bamboo building on Fallen Mountain made him feel terrible.
Zheng Dafeng grinned, "Just talk about it roughly. As long as you give a general idea, besides all our previous deals, I'll give you an extra martial arts sword manual—the most basic one, but known as 'the least wrong.' The old man got it from a yin spirit who was a sword cultivator in life. Li Er, Li Liu, and I all studied it. It's the least meaningful to me, but the old man mainly intended it for Li Liu. For you, Chen Ping'an, it might not be useless."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then said, "Tempering the body and soul is like pounding glutinous rice to make mochi. Believe it or not, that's how simple it is. But after that, I have to do something..."
As he said that, Chen Ping'an pressed two fingers together and pointed at his own arm. "Then I skin myself and pull out my sinews, inch by inch, slowly. Can't even blink. I don't completely peel off the skin, and I don't break the sinews entirely. Every time, someone tells me when it's over. Then I'm carried off to soak in a medicinal barrel. The wounds heal quickly."
Zheng Dafeng asked, "How many times? Once or twice? Three or four?"
Chen Ping'an grinned, "Every single day. Can't count them on two hands."
Zheng Dafeng's face first showed disbelief, then he burst into laughter, "Good, good, good! Just thinking about how much suffering you've endured makes me so happy. I'll organize that sword manual for you later, promise not to tamper with it at all, and give it to you intact!"
Chen Ping'an rolled his eyes.
This guy was so boring.
But thinking about it, if he weren't boring, how could he run a pharmacy that lost money every day?
Zheng Dafeng laughed for a long time before finally stopping, "Fan Er's innate foundation isn't worse than yours. But in terms of mindset, he's a young master from a big family after all—he's been tempered too little. So the essence of martial arts, the unity of body and soul, let's just say, compared to us, is still outwardly strong but inwardly weak. It can't withstand the kind of brutal pounding you've been through, or he'd break."
Zheng Dafeng pinched the wine cup on the table with two fingers, and it instantly turned to powder.
Zheng Dafeng said calmly, "What's more important—martial arts or life?"
Chen Ping'an began to clear the dishes and chopsticks.
Zheng Dafeng's mood grew heavy.
Because he suddenly realized that the matter of Chen Ping'an's destiny porcelain being shattered back then ran deep—deeper than he had imagined.
For no reason, watching the youth skillfully stack the bowls and plates, Zheng Dafeng felt a bit sorry for him.
Chen Ping'an?
His surname didn't leave much to be said, and his given name—had it been taken reversed?[1]
Zheng Dafeng asked casually, "Chen Ping'an, who do you take after? Your father or your mother?"
Chen Ping'an blurted out, "The old neighborhood folks say I take after my mother more."
Then Chen Ping'an glanced at Zheng Dafeng, "Anyway, whoever I take after, I'm better-looking than you."
Zheng Dafeng said irritably, "Get lost, get lost! Go clean up your dishes!"
He really should not have had that moment of pity for this kid.
---
Back on the Dragon Ascension Platform on the east coast of Old Dragon City, city lord Fu Qi had gone to the clouds to investigate the anomaly and had not returned for a long time. The Golden Core Realm elder who cultivated in a thatched hut by the sea left his cultivation spot and came to stand beside the young city lord Fu Nanhua. Fu Nanhua then realized something was wrong. Following the old man's gaze, he saw a man walking slowly from afar with a sword resting horizontally behind his back. His demeanor was leisurely, like a traveler visiting the area. Fu Nanhua couldn't gauge the other's depth. He asked softly, "Is this person's cultivation very high?"
The Golden Core elder could single-handedly guard the Dragon Ascension Platform for the Fu family. His combat power was considerable, with two offensive and defensive magic treasures. He was among the top experts in all of Old Dragon City. At this moment, the old man's expression was far from relaxed. He said solemnly, "I think extremely high."
Fu Nanhua was shaken. Those words were quite telling—not in the "extremely high" part, but in the phrase "I think." It meant that even a Golden Core Realm expert couldn't see through the other's true strength, and that his realm was at least higher than the elder's Ninth-Tier Golden Core Realm. The most terrifying thing was that the uninvited guest carried a sword. If he was a sword cultivator, even if he was just a Nascent Soul Realm above Golden Core, a Tenth Realm sword cultivator's killing power was unimaginable.
Fu Nanhua asked again, "Does he come with ill intent?"
The Golden Core elder shook his head, "Not likely."
The man walked over leisurely, completely disregarding the prohibition rules established by the Fu family of Old Dragon City. He directly crossed that invisible guardian formation and came before the elder and Fu Nanhua. With both hands resting on the scabbard positioned horizontally behind him, he smiled and said, "My name is Xu Ruo. I'm from Great Li, and I'm currently staying at your residence."
Fu Nanhua suddenly understood. When the ferry had landed at Fu City, he hadn't been qualified to welcome his father Fu Qi and the distinguished guest from Great Li. Only a few people in the family had "received" them. Fu Nanhua dared not pretend to be clever in such a major matter. Since his father didn't want him to appear, it must have had deep meaning, so he had obediently played deaf and dumb. But Xu Ruo's reputation was well known to Fu Nanhua. This wasn't Xu Ruo of Great Li, but Xu Ruo of the Mohist school. Now, hearing the man announce himself, he suppressed the tumult in his heart and immediately bowed with clasped hands, "Fu Nanhua pays respects to the Sword Immortal senior."
Xu Ruo smiled and returned the greeting with clasped hands.
After straightening up, Fu Nanhua turned to the Golden Core elder and laughed, "Grandpa Chu, it's all right."
Unexpectedly, after a moment of shock, the elder made a more devout bow than Fu Nanhua, even sinking to the ground and taking his time rising, "Chu Yang, unfilial descendant of the Emerald Wei Chu clan in the Central Continent, thanks Senior Xu for the grace of saving my life on behalf of the clan!"
Xu Ruo laughed in surprise. The disaster of the Emerald Wei Chu clan back then—he had just passed by and casually intervened, helping the Chu clan fend off the endless harassment of a mountain-top lineage sect. He waved his hand, "No need to be so polite. I was just abiding by the Mohist tenets."
The elder still didn't rise. His voice trembled, "Great grace is great grace. If not for Senior Xu's timely rescue, Chu Yang would truly have become a stray dog. Even if I wanted to return to the clan later, it would have been a luxury. Senior Xu has a warm heart and would naturally not keep such a matter in mind. But Chu Yang dares not forget the grace and repay it with ingratitude!"
Xu Ruo said helplessly, "I accept your intention. But you can't keep bending over like this."
The Golden Core elder, who only looked a generation older than Xu Ruo, straightened up from that grand salute. He looked at the powerful Sword Immortal who could incorporate famous mountains and great rivers into his sword intent, and laughed, "I never expected to meet Senior Xu in Bottle Gourd Continent. Chu Yang has been cultivating in seclusion here for decades, and the resentment and frustration I felt toward the Fu family—today, it's all gone!"
Fu Nanhua gave a wry smile.
No wonder he was the number one Golden Core in Old Dragon City—his temper was truly foul and he didn't know how to repay kindness!
But amidst his helplessness, Fu Nanhua was also filled with mixed emotions. When Golden Core Chu Yang had traveled to Old Dragon City in his early years, he had been so arrogant. Because of a trivial matter, he had clashed with a major surname clan in Old Dragon City, fighting a chaotic battle. Chu Yang alone had fought off the crowd without losing the upper hand. In the end, Fu Qi had to personally intervene. He first fought a great battle with this man, then threw out a mountain of gold and silver, and ceded the Dragon Ascension Platform, this feng shui treasure land, to make Chu Yang reluctantly become one of the Fu family's elders. Even with such sincerity from the Fu family, Chu Yang still declared to them that in the future, as long as a dispute didn't involve the survival of the clan, he, Chu Yang, would not lift a finger. And if anyone from the Fu family dared to exploit his debt of gratitude, they'd better not blame him for turning hostile. In the end, the Fu family had to grit their teeth and accept it.
But now, this Golden Core cultivator, who had the potential to become a terrestrial immortal, was in the same state of mind as Fu Nanhua when he faced the unfathomable Chu Yang in his youth.
Fu Nanhua suddenly had a thought. Could it be that this Mohist chivalrous man also had someone he sincerely admired? Would he, too, when meeting that person, willingly take the position of a junior and look up to them?
Fu Nanhua found he simply couldn't imagine that scene.
Xu Ruo didn't exchange pleasantries with the Golden Core elder. He walked straight toward the Dragon Ascension Platform.
Chu Yang didn't even show any intention of reminding him. Fu Nanhua wanted to speak, but quickly swallowed his words back down.
With the clouds over Old Dragon City suddenly descending, Fu Qi quickly returned to this place and appeared beside Fu Nanhua. Looking at Xu Ruo ascending the platform, the city lord of Old Dragon City showed no displeasure. He simply led Fu Nanhua directly back to the city. The Golden Core elder nodded to Fu Qi and returned to his seaside thatched hut to continue his cultivation.
Fu Qi was so at ease letting Xu Ruo approach the girl Zhi Gui.
Not just because he knew he couldn't stop a Sword Immortal famous throughout the Central Continent, but also because of Xu Ruo's Mohist identity.
The wandering knights of the Mohist school traveling the world—that in itself was a shining golden signboard.
Xu Ruo had only walked halfway when the girl came down from the Dragon Ascension Platform. She was dressed in simple and elegant servant attire, with a clean and pretty face. There was no longer blood streaming down her face; her eyes were golden.
The two met halfway. Xu Ruo stopped and followed the girl downward. He said softly, as a reminder, "In the eyes of certain Confucian sages, your stepping onto this platform is a provocation of the rules."
In front of Xu Ruo, the girl didn't bother with the pretense she had shown in Bead Grotto and the Great Li capital. Her face was cold. "Since I was able to crawl out of that well alive and leave Bead Grotto alive, that means my existence has already been tacitly accepted by the sages of the four directions. Does it really matter if I step onto this platform or not?"
Before Xu Ruo could say anything, Zhi Gui answered her own question, "I don't think it matters. Not one bit."
Xu Ruo said "Oh," and didn't pursue it further.
The girl laughed, "Back then, among the hundred schools of thought, only you Mohists..."
In an instant, Xu Ruo pushed his sword out of the scabbard by two inches. The entire Dragon Ascension Platform was enveloped by a river of intangible water, its momentum so vast that even the great tides surging toward the shore withdrew on their own. The Golden Core elder cultivating in the thatched hut suddenly opened his eyes, then quickly closed them again.
The girl chuckled, "Your swordsmanship is indeed superb, and it can become even higher. But this boldness... it really can't compare to your Mohist founder."
Xu Ruo frowned slightly, "That's about enough. Pushing your luck isn't a good thing. This is, after all, the Bright World."
The girl narrowed her eyes and curled her lips, "Right, how could I not know? This place is nothing but the site of an ancient battlefield, with corpses piled higher than the Central Continent's great Mount Sui, and blood flowing more than the main channel of that great river you've summoned."
Xu Ruo stopped walking and, for the first time, showed some anger, "Didn't Master Qi from the Cliff Academy teach you anything?!"
The girl kept walking, her steps light, "He taught me, yes. He loves lecturing the most. I just don't like to listen."
Xu Ruo followed in silence. The moment the girl stepped off the last step, the majestic river-like sword intent dissipated into nothing.
Easy and effortless, following his heart's desire.
Back when Xu Ruo had faced the Snow Wind Temple's Wei Jin, who had just reached the Jade Pure Realm, he had similarly pushed his sword out a little, using a mountain-like sword intent to counter Wei Jin's sword. It had seemed evenly matched, but it was obvious that Xu Ruo was far from going all out.
In fact, Xu Ruo hadn't fully drawn his sword in far too many years.
Back in Red Candle Town of the Great Li Dynasty, Xu Ruo had met a man wearing a bamboo hat. While drinking, Xu Ruo had wanted to seek advice on a sword technique, but the man only smiled and said, "Don't waste the spirit energy of the scabbard. Keep saving it up."
At that time, Xu Ruo knew just how vast the gap between them was.
If it weren't for the restriction of his identity as a Mohist disciple, Xu Ruo would also have wanted to go to the Sword Qi Wall.
The Sword Immortals atop that wall were a completely different thing from the Sword Immortals of the nine continents of the Bright World.
How could Xu Ruo's heart not yearn for it?
Perhaps, taking this opportunity, he should go to Inverted Mountain?
Xu Ruo's heart stirred. It seemed feasible.
But catching a glimpse of the girl's back, Xu Ruo sighed. Forget it. This little girl in front of him, who appeared so frail, was no easy light.
And her age really wasn't young anymore.
Xu Ruo stopped again, as if he had lost the intention to escort her back to the Fu residence.
The girl turned to look back, a bit puzzled.
Xu Ruo stood still.
She took it as another bout of his Sword Immortal pride, unwilling to bother with her. She didn't care anyway, soon turned back, and continued on her way.
Xu Ruo finally turned around himself and returned to the Dragon Ascension Platform, walking to its highest point. This had once been the landing point of the last true dragon in the world, which had then fled northward, carving out the Dragon Path, and finally fallen in the northernmost part of Bottle Gourd Continent, the Great Li Dynasty, without managing to enter the sea and cross over to Julu Continent.
Xu Ruo didn't know how far this girl, who called herself Wang Zhu, could go this time.
---
The Fan family's Osmanthus Island ferry was set to depart at dusk today.
Fan Er had come specially to see Chen Ping'an off. Early in the morning, the two had taken a carriage together to the outskirts of Old Dragon City.
Zheng Dafeng had apparently left a cloth bundle outside Chen Ping'an's door the night before, just casually tossed there. Then the pharmacy owner, who didn't eat breakfast, had slept in until the sun was high in the sky, determined to sleep his fill. During that time, he ignored Fan Er's knocking and Chen Ping'an's farewell.
The six continent-crossing ferries in Old Dragon City, including Osmanthus Island, were not at the end of Sun family's street outside the city, but on a huge isolated island far to the south. One had to change to a smaller ferry to reach that enormous island, which was over thirty miles from "Dragon Head" Old Dragon City on the mainland of Bottle Gourd Continent.
After docking at the shore, a Fan family carriage was already waiting. The two peers sat inside the carriage. Fan Er furtively pulled out a money pouch and handed it to Chen Ping'an, whispering, "My family is strict with money. I don't have much, Chen Ping'an, I swear I'm not being stingy. These gold ingots are all from my New Year's money. It's because the amount is small—some familiar elders secretly gave them to me—and they're not the Snowflake coins or Little Summer coins of the mountain immortals, so my parents turned a blind eye. Just a small token. You must accept it. And these two bottles of osmanthus brew—take them to drink on the road. Grandpa Ma, our driver, hid them in his storage object for me. When we get to Osmanthus Island, he'll secretly give them to you. Because Mr. Zheng said our family's Osmanthus Island, once at sea, will treat you well, and you won't lack wine like this. But still, as I said, this is my own gesture. It's different."
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "I won't take the money, but I'll definitely accept the wine."
Fan Er was a bit sad and frustrated, "Why? You're not the kind of person who dislikes small amounts, are you? Between friends like us, shouldn't it be 'gold scattered without blinking'? I was actually feeling pretty heartbroken on the way here—I saved that up for five or six years."
Chen Ping'an gently bumped the youth's shoulder and lowered his voice, "Is there 'flower wine' in Old Dragon City? When we're a bit older..."
Fan Er's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood. "Don't worry. I'll save up some more gold ingots over the next couple of years."
Chen Ping'an said seriously, "I have a very good friend who says the best-tasting wine in the world is flower wine. If you haven't even had that once, you don't deserve to be called a wine immortal. Fan Er, we'll just drink, okay?"
Fan Er said solemnly, "Absolutely!"
Beyond the large island that blocked the view of Old Dragon City, there was another island. On it, pavilions and terraces stretched in an unbroken chain. The entire mountain was covered with osmanthus trees, their fragrance delightful.
Between the two islands, a wide road connected the sea. Many luxurious carriages could only stop their horses at one end of the road. But the carriage carrying the two youths could go straight to the Osmanthus Island ferry, drawing many strange looks. However, when some cultivators recognized the old driver, they dared not complain further.
The carriage slowly stopped. Chen Ping'an and Fan Er got out. Fan Er said with a bitter face, "Chen Ping'an, I won't see you onto the ship. Over this period, I've stolen a lot of my dad's osmanthus brew. He'd hidden those bottles from my mother with great difficulty, and I've stolen them all. When I go back today, I'll definitely be punished and sent to the ancestral hall..."
Chen Ping'an quickly said, "Don't you dare eat dirt! I was joking when I said it could fill you up."
Fan Er stood dumbfounded, a mournful look on his face, "I dug up over two pounds of dirt last night and hid it under my bed. All for nothing?"
Chen Ping'an laughed heartily. Taking the two bottles of wine from the kind-eyed old driver, he walked backward toward Osmanthus Island, calling out to Fan Er with a smile, "I'm off!"
Fan Er nodded vigorously, waving goodbye. He seemed to remember something and shouted, "Chen Ping'an, I think your name is pretty good, pretty much like mine. Our parents put some thought into naming us!"
Chen Ping'an's face darkened. He turned and ran up the mountain path toward the island.
Fan Er felt a bit smug, "That'll teach you to trick me into thinking dirt can be eaten."
Fan Er turned around and said to the old driver with a smile, "Grandpa Ma, let's go! Straight to the family's ancestral hall!"
The youth felt this was exceptionally heroic. It seemed those drinks hadn't been wasted, nor the thefts. Now he was full of courage!
The old man, who had been holding back his laughter all along, said, "Young Master Fan, your father said you don't need to go to the ancestral hall to be punished this time."
Fan Er threw his hands up, unsure whether to be happy or annoyed.
The old man glanced at his young master, then at the straw-sandaled youth already on Osmanthus Island, and for no reason felt that today's weather was exceptionally fine.
Chen Ping'an climbed the mountain. With every step, it felt like he was getting one step closer to that girl.
So his steps grew faster and faster, until he reached the summit of Osmanthus Island. He looked around and couldn't help taking a deep breath. Then he deliberately held that breath.
Because Chen Ping'an suddenly remembered a sentence spoken by the old man in the bamboo building, standing on a cliff ledge.
"The moment you exhale this breath, you must make heaven and earth change color! Make immortals kneel and knock their heads! Make all the martial artists in the world feel that you are the heavens above!"
Then he remembered a saying from the old Sword Saint of Comb Water Country.
"If a girl says to you, 'Chen Ping'an, you're a good guy'... haha, your relationship is definitely finished!"
Chen Ping'an immediately felt a bit deflated and scratched his head anxiously.
Finally, he remembered a sentence he himself had said. "My father's surname is Chen, and my mother's surname is also Chen. So I'm called... Chen Ping'an."
Chen Ping'an crouched down and started drinking his wine in silence, muttering indistinctly, "Chen Ping'an, aren't you a fool?!"
[1] "Ping'an" means "peaceful" or "safe." The comment suggests his life has been anything but peaceful.